The tarpon weighed a whopping 211 pounds and measured an 84-inch fork length. Fork length of a fish is measured from the most anterior part of the head to the deepest point of the notch in the tail fin. That’s one big fish. Bigger than most people. Eighty-four inches would equate to a 7-foot tall person who weighs more than 200 pounds. But, it’s not the record. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says the Florida state record for tarpon caught with conventional tackle is 243 pounds, caught by Gus Bell in Key West in 1975 Record or not, a fish as big as Kapela and his client caught will be one they won’t forget anytime soon. Since the tarpon is a catch-and-release fish, a quick weigh, measure and photo was taken and the fish was released back into the water.